With a political climate that reveals an unprecedented level of hyper-partisanship and an extreme unwillingness to compromise, longtime political pundit and commentator, Norman Ornstein outlines how the U.S. is on the brink of institutional collapse and doubled-over in deadlock. As chronicled in his recent book, It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism (2012), Ornstein identifies the two primary causes behind this pernicious state of affairs. At the lead is the issue of party mismatch and a governing system that makes it difficult for majorities to act. In close second is the issue of party culpability and “asymmetric polarization.” With a unique sense of humor, extraordinary eye for detail and over 30 years in the field, Ornstein discusses specifically what each of these issues entails and their possible solutions.

Meet Norman Ornstein

A highly respected and trusted political analyst, Norman Ornstein delivers an in-depth commentary about the American political system and its various processes.

An observer of U.S. politics for over 30 years, Norman Ornstein delivers spot-on analyses of the Washington political scene. Through a combination of scholarship, hard journalism and practical down-to-earth understanding of human nature, Ornstein not only comments on the political process but gets right down in the thick of it. Deemed the “nation’s hottest pundit” by Columbia Journalism Review and an “icon of the press” by National Journal, Ornstein is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research and a columnist for Roll Call newspaper. A regular on numerous television and radio programs, including Nightline, Charlie Rose, All Things Considered and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Ornstein became the first “pollster” for the Comedy Central network. His many books include: The Permanent Campaign and Its Future (2000), The Broken Branch: How Congress is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track (2008)—deemed“a classic” by The Economist—and most recentlyTheNew York Times best-seller It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism (2012). Highlighted by National Journal as one of the select few called upon to “deliver the final word,” Ornstein writes regularly for TheWashington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic. Named one of 100 outstanding Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy in 2012, Ornstein shares with audiences a keen and highly provocative commentary on key policies relative to foreign policy, energy and the economy.